I had the pleasure of doing my first family shoot last night. I have photographed my family (which I will share some lessons learned from that later…I know you can’t wait!! :O) and my sister’s family but it is a whole other thing when you photograph someone else’s family. One of my dear friend’s had her in-laws in town for a visit, so I convinced her to let me take some family pictures. I’m SO glad I did!! Here are a few lessons I learned!
1. I DO like to photograph other families! This was a surprise to me. I LOVE photography but I thought I only enjoyed shooting my own family. I always got stressed when a friend would ask me to take pictures of their kids or something. I had such a great time! The hour went by so fast and I wasn’t nearly as nervous as I thought I would be.
2. Having a “secret” is a great way to get kids to get excited about the photos. At the end of the shoot, I called the kids over to get the last few photos. I told the kids to run over and tickle their parents, but it was a “big secret.” They got such a kick out of it and wanted to keep taking pictures. I had them sneak up and give kisses. You could come up with as many “secrets” as the kids are willing to do.
3. No matter how hard I try, I still crop feet! Oops!!
4. I LOVE Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3!
Seriously, if you don’t have Lightroom, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??? They also have an educator/student discounted version. It is the exact same one just WAY cheaper!! I love the things I can do to photos. Check out this before and after!!
5. Sometimes it is the not so perfectly posed pictures that are my favorite. I love this photo because it is such real life. You know how much I love capturing real moments.
6. I love capturing relationships! There is something special about capturing that connection between two people.
7. Don’t forget to capture kids being kids! A photo shoot isn’t rainbows and butterflies the whole time for kids. Sometimes they just want to play with a sea shell :O)
Thanks to my friend and her awesome family for letting me go picture crazy on them (took 800 photos)!!! I had such a great time!
Courtney Slazinik
@clickitupanotch
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At Click it Up a Notch you will find tips and tricks to improve your photos one click at a time. 
You shouldn’t have admitted that you LIKE shooting other people, now you’re going to have people beating down your door to take their picture!!
They are all great, of course! Love the one with the couple on the beach!
Twitter: clickitupanotch
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Ha ha! Uh-oh!
These are great. I really love them.
Twitter: clickitupanotch
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Thanks!
Of course you know how much I love them & I’m thrilled to pieces w them! I’ll be thanking you every other day for at least the next few months. I really can’t thank you enough!
Twitter: clickitupanotch
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It was my pleasure!
Beautiful photos of a beautiful family! Trisha is such a sweetheart!!
Twitter: clickitupanotch
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Thanks, Erin!! The silhouette you did for her is AMAZING!!
Gorgeous Photos!
Twitter: clickitupanotch
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Thanks! :O)
Lovely pictures, lovely lessons!
Your lightroom before and after is VERY convincing. Beautiful shot!!
Twitter: clickitupanotch
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Lightroom is worth every penny, especially if you can get the education discount!! Thanks!
Twitter: HolderElizabeth
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you are so so right !!! some of my favorite shots are the not perfectly posed ones either – i think i relax when people think I am not “shooting” them -
i love capturing people when they aren’t expecting me too
great post as usual.
Twitter: clickitupanotch
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Thanks, Elizabeth!
Gorgeous photos!!! Do you know if you can just buy the Lightroom student/teacher edition or if you somehow have to prove you really are a student or teacher? Thanks!!!
Twitter: clickitupanotch
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Yes, you do have to prove you are a student/teacher. From my understanding though, if you have a school age child you can get that version as a parent. Here is a list of the requirements and they do check.
Just click on “who is eligible” and “proof of eligibility” to see the requirements.
https://store1.adobe.com/cfusion/store/index.cfm?&store=OLS-EDU#category=/Applications/PhotoshopLightroomSTE&categoryOid=4755036&store=OLS-EDU&loc=en_us&view=ols_prod
Hope you can qualify or maybe get someone who does to buy it for you for Christmas :O) Thanks for stopping by!!
Thank you for stopping by my blog, the awesome comment (I would love one of those Kelly Moore camera bags to double as a diaper bag!!!!!), and answering my Lightroom question
My mom does work for the school, so maybe, just maybe she’ll qualify and Santa will be extra good this year 
I’m glad to have stumbled upon another military spouses’ blog too
Love the pictures. Love your blog